FIGURE 7.

Effects of IL‐18BP on IL‐18‐induced proliferation and steroid hormone secretion of TCs. A, Dose‐ and time‐dependent effects of IL‐18BP inhibited IL‐18‐induced cell proliferation was assessed by BrdU incorporation. TCs were pretreated with different concentrations of IL‐18BP (1, 10, 100 and 1000 ng/mL) for 30 min, and then, 1000 ng/mL IL‐18 was added for different time. B, Inhibition rates of different concentrations of IL‐18BP on Il‐18‐induced proliferation of thecal cells. Inhibition rate = [(absorbance value of experimental group/absorbance value of IL‐18 group) − 1] × 100%. C,D, Dose‐ and time‐dependent effects of IL‐18BP inhibited Il‐18‐induced steroid secretion in TCs. The A2 (C) and 17OHP4 (D) concentrations were measured in culture media, and the value was normalized by the protein concentration in each well. Data represent the mean ± SEM of at least four independent experiments. a‐d, P < .05 vs IL‐18 group. *Significant differences (P < .05) compared between groups